Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.4, 2024

 

Exploring Three Aspects of Xi Jinping’s Cultural Thoughts — Insights from His Speech at the Forum on Literature and Art

(Abstract)

 

Liu Kai

 

Chinese President and general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping has consistently placed great emphasis on issues related to literature, art and culture. His speech at the Forum on Literature and Art in 2014 established the foundational ideas, framework and objectives for the Party’s literary and artistic work in the new era, serving as a crucial guide. This speech is notable for its methodological approach, examining literary and artistic issues within a broad cultural context, a feature that profoundly influences the exploration of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in the new era. The speech’s emphasis on “cultural consciousness” has further developed into the concept of “three types of culture,” clarifying the composition of cultural subjectivity in the new era. Additionally, the speech’s focus on “carrying forward and developing the fine traditional Chinese culture” has evolved into the “second integration,” which now stands as a fundamental approach to cultural development in the new era. Moreover, the assertion that “art is a universal language” aligns with the idea of “mutual learning among civilizations,” reflecting a broad cultural perspective and a global outlook.